Scotland says No to GMO

Once the European Union granted the right to member nations to decide on their own whether they wanted genetically modified organisms polluting their food supply, Scotland acted. Now, they’re initiating a ban on GMO crops in the island nation.

Richard Lochhead, the Scottish government’s minister for the environment, food and rural affairs, declared that Scotland would be halting the production and import of GMO foods to their lands. They informed both the EU as well as the British government which partially controls affairs in Scotland.

“Scotland is known around the world for our beautiful natural environment – and banning growing genetically modified crops will protect and further enhance our clean, green status,” Lochhead said in a statement.

“There is no evidence of significant demand for GM products by Scottish consumers and I am concerned that allowing GM crops to be grown in Scotland would damage our clean and green brand, thereby gambling with the future of our 14 billion-pound ($22 billion) food and drink sector.”